Binding a Quilt

Securely tape the backing to the surface, using Sewer's Fix-it Tape or masking tape.

Center the batting over the backing.

Center the quilt top, right side up, over the batting.

2. Pin the layers together.

Use Size 1 Curved Basting Pins to simplify pinning. These curved nickel-plated brass pins are just the right angle for easy, comfortable insertion, and they won't rust. Pin every 3" to 4".

Position the pins no closer than 1/2" from the seams to allow room for the presser foot when machine quilting.

Remove the tape.

3. Quilt the quilt. Stitch in the ditch on the right side of the quilt, stitching along all the seams of the pieced quilt top, using monofilament thread in the needle. Or, use the following gridded quilting.

Set up the machine for quilting.

Attach a quilting bar to the presser foot. This bar makes it easy to space the rows of stitching accurately and uniformly. Adjust the quilting bar so it is 1-1/2" to 2" (or the desired distance) from the needle.

Adjust the machine for a straight stitch.

Use a balanced tension.

Engage the dual feed if your machine has that feature. Or, use a Walking Foot so the top and bottom layers feed evenly through the machine. This prevents one layer from shifting and ending up longer than the other.

Using an erasable fabric marking pen, mark one vertical line and one horizontal line on the quilt sandwich, placing each at the center of the fabric section.

Stitch vertical quilting lines.

Straight stitch along the marked vertical line.

Align and guide the quilting bar along the first row of stitching. Stitch the second row, sewing in the opposite direction of the first row to minimize fabric shifting.

Repeat, alternating stitching direction with each vertical row. Note: You may need to reposition the quilting bar so it is to the left of the foot on some tows.

Stitch the horizontal rows, using the same technique, again alternating stitching direction with each row.

Meet the angle-cut end of the binding to the right side of the quilt, meeting cut edges and starting in the center of one side. Stitch binding to quilt with a 1/4" seam, beginning 4" from the end of the binding and stopping at the marked point at the first corner. Lock stitches.

Insert the free edge of the binding inside the beginning of the binding so binding is smooth and even with edge of quilt. Press to fuse binding ends together. Or, slip stitch ends together after binding is folded to the wrong side.

Unfold binding; trim excess. Refold binding.

Stitch remainder of seam.

Fold and press the binding away from the quilt. Then fold the binding to the wrong side, covering the stitching line and tucking in corners to form miters.

Hold the binding in place with Binding and Hem Clips or pins.

Secure the edge of the binding by stitching in the ditch from the right side of the quilt, sewing in the well of the seam through all layers to catch the folded edge on the back of the quilt. Or, hand stitch the folded edge in place.